Hundreds rally outside Iran-New Zealand World Cup match in LA
What's new: A judge upheld FIFA's ban on Iran's pre-revolutionary flag hours before kickoff, deepening tensions around the opener.
Hundreds of Iranian Americans gathered outside the World Cup stadium in Inglewood on June 15 as Iran prepared to face New Zealand in its tournament opener. Protesters carried the lion-and-sun emblem linked to Iran's pre-revolutionary flag and denounced Tehran, while other fans entered the match saying they wanted to support Team Melli and set politics aside. Security was tight around the venue, with road closures and police patrols. PBS reported that a Los Angeles judge upheld FIFA's ban on the pre-revolutionary flag just hours before kickoff, though Reuters saw some fans carrying the symbol through security. The divided scene reflected broader tensions in the Iranian diaspora after Iran's crackdown on dissent and the recent US-Iran war deal.